THUNDER BAY – The federal government will spend $275,000 to help four local organizations continue their work.
The money, being directed through FedNor, will help make improvements to Baseball Central ($100,000), partially finance construction of a pavilion at Waverley Park ($95,000), upgrade trails for accessibility at the Mission Island Conservation Area ($47,769) and hire a youth intern at Regroupement des organismes francophones de Thunder Bay Inc. ($31,500).
Ryan Mackett, a public relations officer at the Lakehead Region Conservation Area, said without the money, it would be tough for the trail work to be completed.
It opens up nature viewing possibilities for everyone, he said.
“It’s really important for us to be able to offer our area and our nature that we have and share that with people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get out. You wouldn’t be able to take a wheelchair down the majority of our trails at other conservation areas, but here at Mission, this landscape lent itself perfectly,” Mackett said on Monday, following an announcement made by local Liberal MP Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North).
“Someone who’s in a wheelchair, they can come out birding. They can come out wildlife viewing. They can come see migratory birds in the fall. They can scope out water fowl in the area and probably see many deer as they work their way through the loop and enjoy more than just the view of the Sleeping Giant.”
Bonnie Anderson, secretary for the Coalition for Waverley Park, said plans for a new pavilion have been with the city for some time. But the money just wasn’t there to complete the project at the 146-year-old park.
“We’ve been able to get a few levels of government funding. This one is what put us over the edge, that allowed us to be able to go forward and build the pavilion,” Anderson said.
She noted the old band shell was a well-used facility in its heyday, but over time it deteriorated and was eventually torn down.
Anderson said it would be great to bring back activity to the park, noting concerts, theatre productions and possibly even weddings would be perfect fits.
“It’ll benefit our neighbours, the neighbourhoods and the city at large,” said Anderson, adding they hope to have construction complete by as early as year’s end.
Hajdu said these type of projects, which might get overlooked at times when money is being doled out, are integral to the city’s well-being.
“It’s important to the community because community organizations struggle to get what they need to do the type of maintenance and upgrades that will allow for everyone to enjoy what they have to offer,” Hadju said.
